Street Friends is a Cambodian non-political, Non-Governmental, and non-denominational not for profit organization. They operate numerous programs for street children. The cetners are in Kampong Speu, Phnom Penh, and Kampong Cham provinces. However activities are are in all provinces of Cambodia. Below are some help programs provided by Street Friends.
Boarding House
Objective
To provide a place to rest during daytime hours for the children who work at night (sex workers, beggars,...) and those who refuse to join the "traditional" centers.
Activities
A "hotel" where children pay a small fee for meals and place to sleep. Afternoon activities are proposed such as literacy, sports, HIV/AIDS awareness, counseling, etc.
Medical care is administered daily by the Mith Samlanh/Friends doctor.
Young Migrants Program
Objective
To support and provide information to young migrants (especially girls) who arrive to Phnom Penh, allowing them to find adequate placement and employment.
Activities
Identify young migrants through outreach activities at taxi and bus stations and provide them with information and/or short term shelter while supporting them to be oriented, and to define their objectives and help them achieve these objectives (employment, reintegration, training, family tracing, etc).
Transitional Home
Objective
To provide children with a safe shelter.
Activities
An open house (a long term residential center that also serves as a drop-in center) where children are provided with meals, lodging, hygiene facilities, health care, a family atmosphere and counseling.
They can stay for the duration of their studies leading to their reintegration.
Training Center
Objectives
To provide training to children and adults in need, thereby improving their self-confidence and providing access to income generating activities.
Activities
A center offering training in beautician, commerce, domestic service/cooking classes, electricity, electronics, farming, hairdressing for men, masonry, mechanics (motorbike and car), sewing, and welding.
All children also attend literacy classes, life skills education (HIV/AIDS, drugs) as well as sporting and cultural activities.
Educational Center
Objective
To provide children with literacy classes as well as remedial classes allowing them to reintegrate into the public school system.
Activities
Literacy classes are offered to all trainees and there is a primary school (first to fifth grades), a library, as well as cultural and artistic activities such as dance, music, drawing and crafts.
Placement
Objective
To ensure successful placement of children into families, employment and\or public school.
Activities
Children are encouraged and supported to return to their families, to reintegrate the public school system or to find gainful employment.
The Team carries out family assessments and family plans allowing for the provision of support to the families and/or the child for the placement.
Children who return to public school are supported with all necessary material (uniforms, school material and supplies)
Children who seek employment are supported to either find employment in existing companies or to establish themselves independently. They receive all the support to be able to start their employed life (including all the material to start their own business)
On-going regular follow-up to support the children's reintegration are organized to ensure success and sustainability of placement.
The team works in close collaboration with the local authorities and provides training to the personnel of the provincial personnel of the Ministry of Social Affairs in assessment, placement and follow-up strategies and implementation.
Youth Reproductive Health
Objectives
To raise awareness about Reproductive Health issues among street children and their families, to support street children and family members in accessing Reproductive Health services.
Activities
An education and awareness program is integrated within all Mith Samlanh / Friends projects. Children are participating in this education by becoming Peer Educators in the streets, in the center and in their families and communities. A “Condom Café” , run by street children, provides awareness, education and health care to a wider population.
HIV/AIDS Program
Objective
To raise awareness about HIV/AIDS among street children and their families, to care for infected children and family members and support the social integration of orphaned children.
Activities
An awareness and education program is integrated within all Mith Samlanh / Friends' programs. A special team identifies and supports infected families in the squatter areas and hospitals. Children who are going to be orphaned are identified and their placement is ensured in order to prevent them from living on the streets. Infected children receive emotional support and health care.
Substance Use Prevention, Harm Reduction and Treatment Program
Objectives
Monitoring, prevention and demand reduction of substance use among street children and their families.
Activities
To provide education and awareness on substance use to the children in the streets and to provide them with support, entertainment and alternatives to substance use in the streets and/or in specific centers - a drop-in center in Phnom Penh and Camp Sabay Sabay in Kampong Speu. Children using substances are taught harm reduction strategies to protect themselves and their friends.
Child Rights
Objectives
To prevent and respond to cases of child abuse, to inform children and families about child rights, human rights, workers rights, etc, and to promote child participation.
Activities
A team investigates and follows up cases of child abuse (physical, emotional and sexual) with the relevant authorities and collaborates with government and non-government organizations to promote child rights and child protection. Promoting child participation makes up part of the program, through children's elections, participation in national politics, children's day celebrations, children's workshops, and children's newsletter.
Culture
Objectives
To allow children to discover their rich culture and allow them to express themselves.
Activities
This project provides children in the in the centers and in the streets with cultural and entertainment activities that will allow their personal expression and growth. A team of teachers organize workshops that include dance, painting, theater, video, photo and sports. Students who attend remedial classes or vocational training as well as for children who are still working or living on the streets participate in the workshops and design their own shows and exhibitions. On a regular basis, these shows and exhibitions are presented by the children to their peers as well as to a wider audience.
Friends' businesses
Objective
a series of business projects aiming at building and reinforcing the financial sustainability of Mith Samlanh. All initiatives are part of the training process of students within the Training Center.
Activities
All training workshops are organized as businesses. Specific businesses were created: Friends-The Restaurant (Western-Asian fusion), PopZone (Cambodian fast food), Café du Centre (French style café), Condom Café (Cambodian restaurant with an educational focus), Friends'N'Stuff (a shop selling production from the Training Center and second hand goods), The Nail Bar (manicure and pedicure).
The profits are shared between the students, the teachers and Mith Samlanh. This allows students to value their training and pay special attention to the quality of their training. It also allows for the students who need some income to join in the training.
Specific businesses are created to provide income to support the Mith Samlanh program: Café du Centre, postcards, posters and T-shirts.
This effort allows Mith Samlanh to improve its financial sustainability (18% in 2003)